Cyber Monday 2008

Cyber Monday has dawned and online retailers are keeping their fingers crossed that the momentum generated on Black Friday will also give them a very black Monday. Online shoppers have become increasingly savvy about their purchases and if you too are considering an online purchase you would do well to educate yourself on the many deals that online retailers are offering this holiday season.

Come to think of it, most “days” have been built around our fears, religion and of course our pockets. Cyber Monday is the latest addition to the events that ride piggyback on rites, rituals, and feelings that go back to hoary ages in an unabashed celebration of our consumerist mindset.

The not-so-cheerful economic conditions notwithstanding analysts believe that Cyber Monday 2008 will see sales of $821 million which is a 12% increase over the single-day sales for 2007. Online sales during the holiday season are expected to be worth $44 billion. The days after Thanksgiving are also a devil-sent for hackers. Last year, this period saw a 300% increase in phishing and online frauds. When you shop online avoid clicking links on user comments and stick to browsing for what you’ve come to purchase on that site.

But let’s accentuate the positives – you can get great Cyber Monday Dell deals here; free shipping and deep discounts at Sears; TVs and computers going for cheap at Circuit City; etc. Many retailers offer enticing online-only deals. Free shipping, extra purchases, and free returns are some of the benefits that you can avail on Cyber Monday.

Finally, remember that while there’s nothing quite as convenient as shopping in your pink pajamas with a credit card and coffee for company, it can also be dangerous. Too much convenience now will hit you between the eyes when you get your credit card bills; so keep smelling the coffee when you shop online today!